Social Class And Religion

Question 1

What do Ashworth and farthing?

Answer 1

-Churchgoing is associated with the m/c as they had above average frequency of church attendance
-VS W/C who are dependant on state benefits because of sickness, unemployment or old age were the least likely to regularly attend church

Question 2

YouGov survey?

Answer 2

7000 adults conducted in 2015 found 62% of regular churchgoers were middle-class

Question 3

The British social attitudes BSA survey?

Answer 3

• 73% of skilled manual workers claimed they had never attended a religious service
  63% of professional and managerial workers

Question 4

Critic of the BSA?

Answer 4

Didn’t focus on exclusively on service of religious worship, also included weddings christening and funerals

Question 5

Voas and Watt 3 observations?

Answer 5

-Attendance in rural church is 2x higher than urban
-Church attendance is higher in the south of England than in north and midlands
-Growth in church attendance in suburban areas which had academically high preform in church primary and secondary school

Question 6

What does Voas and Watt suggest?

Answer 6

Church attendance is higher amongst the middle class

Question 7

Are middle class and working class more likely to have religious belief?

Answer 7

Working class

Question 8

Religious belief- Lawes?

Answer 8

Lifelong theist come from semi skilled and unskilled manual backgrounds and are less likely to have academic qualifications
Contradicts with church attendance

-Life long atheists are more likely to come from high professional and managerial roles

Question 9

Critic of Lawes?

Answer 9

Can’t generalise religion and social class, for example African or other immigrants to the UK may tend to have a deeper religious faith as well as living in deprived areas and therefore for in lower class. So is it class or culture

Question 10

Reasons why the working class have more religious beliefs?

Answer 10

-Opium of masses (Marx)
-Financial social support and welfare
-Sense of belonging and community

Question 11

What does Glock think of sects and social class?
Economic deprivation

Answer 11

Economic deprivation

Question 12

Glock- how does economic deprivation relate to social class v religion?

Answer 12

They the poorest social groups are offered divine compensation for there low status so gives a way for them to deal with disadvantage e.g. rasatfarianusm and Branch Dravidian’s

Question 13

What does Wallis think of sects and social class?

Answer 13

Psychic deprivation

Question 14

Wallis- how does psychic deprivation relate to social class v religion?

Answer 14

Sects like children of god, unification of the church attracted m/c uni student that experience psychic deprivation as they are disillusioned with capatalism society and parents culture

Question 15

What does Bruce think of sects and social class?

Answer 15

Ethical deprivation

Question 16

Bruce- how does ethical deprivation relate to social class v religion?

Answer 16

Uni educated Muslim girls feel western capitalist society is to dependant on materialism and is spiritually corrupt
Attracted to Islamist as fundamental movement stressed tradition values allowing us to reclaim past and attain certainty

Question 17

Who are our religion case study?

Answer 17

Jehovas Whitness Holden

Question 18

What is Jehovas Witness?

Answer 18

A sect

Question 19

Holden- Jehovas Witness?

Answer 19

People that join sect are usually skilled w/c, self employed and lower class. Leading to them to work in jobs with little human interaction so ultimately feel isolated
Disillusion with the social political and economic system
Ultimately JW provides a Sade haven and a strong science of community

Question 20

Holden- Jehovas Witness factors?

Answer 20

-Conversion is heroic due to its self sacrifice
-Commitment to witness theology and ethics assuring them of heavenly salvation
-JW have a compulsory evangelic role instilling them a strong scence of self worth

Question 21

Who are more likely to be in a cult?

Answer 21

The m/c due to the cost of investing in these spiritual interests can be quite high

Question 22

Bruce- why are m/c attracted to cults?

Answer 22

NAM appeal to those who’s material and financial needs are satisfied yet they feel there may be more to life than money (spiritual deprivation)

Question 23

Heelas- why are m/c attracted to cults?

Answer 23

NA ideas and activity appeal to highly educated professionals especially females and people who work in creative fields who have a deep interest in exploring full potential